SpiceJet Takes Delivery Of All 15 Q400s

Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet has taken delivery of all 15 Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprops it has on order, taking its total fleet strength to 51 aircraft.

“We have taken the delivery of the last three 78-seat Q400 aircraft from Bombardier. This takes the total size of the fleet to 51 and completes the firm order for 15 Q400s,” an airline official says.

Under the agreement, SpiceJet has an option to purchase 15 more Q400s from Bombardier, and has said it will to exercise the option after tracking the performance of the aircraft on their regional routes.

The order is being financed by Canada’s export credit agency, Export Development Canada (EDC), under a June 2011 accord.

Between October 2010 and December 2012 SpiceJet has grown aggressively, adding 29 aircraft (14 Boeing 737s and 15 Q400s) to its fleet. During this period, its daily flights grew 111%, says CEO Neil Mills says.

SpiceJet currently has 19.5% of market share of the Indian domestic market. The airline currently operates more than 330 daily flights to 39 Indian cities and five international destinations.